Unveiling antioxidant capacity of standardized chitosan-tripolyphosphate microcapsules containing polyphenol-rich extract of Portulaca oleraceae.

The medicinal plant Portulaca oleraceae has a long history of usage in traditional medicine. Plant extracts have several interesting pharmacological effects but have some drawbacks that can be addressed via capsulation with chitosan. This work set out to do just that tally up the antioxidant effects of a polyphenol-rich P. olerace extract and see how capsulation affected them. The reflux extraction and response surface methodology (RSM) were carried out to optimize the phenolic and flavonoid content of P. oleraceae extract. Additionally, high-resolution mass spectrometry was employed to determine the secondary metabolite present in the extract. The microcapsules of extract-loaded chitosan were prepared using the ionic gelation method and characterized in terms of size, encapsulation efficiency (EE), and morphology of microcapsules. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) was used to observe the successful production of microcapsules with a principal component analysis (PCA) approach. The antioxidant activity of microcapsules was established using the radical scavenging method. According to RSM, the highest amounts of TPC and TFC were obtained at 72.894 % ethanol, 2.031 h, and 57.384 °C. The compounds were employed from the optimized extract of P. oleraceae including phenolics and flavonoids. The microcapsules were secured with a %EE of 43.56 ± 2.31 %. The characteristics of microcapsules were approved for the obtained product's successful synthesis according to the PCA. The microcapsules have antioxidant activity in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.0001). The findings of this study underscored the benefits of employing chitosan as a nanocarrier for extract, offering a promising approach to enhance plant-derived therapies.

Potential compounds from several Indonesian plants to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection: A mini-review of SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic targets.

The outbreak of coronaviruses (CoVs) presents an enormous threat to humans. To date, no new therapeutic drugs or vaccines licensed to treat human coronaviruses remain undiscovered. This mini-review briefly reports the number of potential plants widely distributed in Indonesia for further research and development as anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents and the critical targets for SARS-CoV-2 therapy, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor, spike protein, 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro), papain-like protease (PLpro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), helicase, and serine protease. Indonesia is rich in medicinal plants (herbal); it also has a long history of using plants to treat various hereditary diseases. However, since SARS-CoV-2 is a new disease, it has no history of plant-based treatment anywhere in the world. This mini-review describes natural products from several Indonesian plants that contain compounds that could potentially prevent or reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection, act as potential targeted therapy, and provide new therapeutic strategies to develop SARS-CoV-2 countermeasures.

The Anti-Proliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Properties of Ethanol Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. Leaves Ethanolic Extract Nanoparticles on T47D Cell Lines

Objectives: Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. is a plant which has the potential as an anti-cancer agent. To enhance the bioavailability of an extract, it is necessary to transform the extract into nanoparticles. This research aimed to create nanoparticles of the extract and investigate the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptosis effects on T47D breast cancer cell lines. Materials and Methods: The extraction with ethanol was performed using maceration method. The nanoparticles were prepared by using the ionic gelation method. Cytotoxic assay method evaluation of the proliferation of T47D cell line (using doubling time) was carried out using the MTT assay. Apoptosis was observed using the flow cytometry assay. Results: Treatment with Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. ethanolic extract nanoparticles (PAEEN) inhibited the proliferation of T47D cell lines after 48 hours and 72 hours of incubation at concentrations of 22.3 µg/mL, 44.6 µg/mL, and 89.2 µg/mL. The viable cells were 93%, 86%, 54% (48 hours), and 98%, 71%, 57% (72 hours), respectively. The nanoparticles of extract also induced apoptosis at concentrations of » IC50 (2.16%), ½ IC50 (1.57%), and IC50 (2.43%). Conclusion: PAEEN exhibits the anti-proliferative effect on T47D breast cancer cells via apoptosis. Further study is required to confirm the mechanism of PAEEN in the cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction on T47D cells.

Prominent Secondary Metabolites from Selected Genus of Avicennia Leaves.

BACKGROUND: Mangrove plants distributed in the intertidal of the tropical and subtropical region including in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The production of secondary metabolite compounds is well known to mangroves. Characterisation of prominent compounds from mangrove plants such as genus of Avicennia is required to explore for their biological and pharmacological properties of these compounds. AIM: The purpose of this research was to analyse the prominent secondary metabolites through the characterisation of phytochemical, physicochemical, and microscopic of the mangrove genus Avicennia leaves, particularly Avicennia alba, A. lanata, A. marina, and A. officinalis. METHODS: Phytochemical screening was carried out on Avicennia spp leaves to the established process. Physicochemical characters of mangrove leaves were investigated by simplicial powder consisting of moisture content, water-soluble, ethanol-soluble, ash content and ash soluble acid according to the WHO formula. Microscopic analysis on the simplicial powder was carried out based on the WHO procedure. RESULTS: The result showed that physicochemical feature displays diversity among the species and important findings on the water concentration was less than 10% as a prerequisite for the drug. The phytochemical search of simplified grain also depicted divergence among the species, only alkaloid, saponin, and triterpenoid or phytosterol were found entirely in Avicennia spp leaves. Microscopic search found a similar type of stoma in Avicennia spp leaves, namely diacytic. CONCLUSION: The prominent secondary metabolites in Avicennia spp leaves consisting of alkaloid and saponin in simplicial and triterpenoid/sterol was either in simplicial or hexane extract. The present study may provide significant pharmacological properties from mangrove Avicennia genus green foliages, which could accelerate another prospect for non-wood mangrove utilisation.

Cyclin D1, Caspase 9 and P53 Expressions in T47D Cell Lines after Treatment of Plectranthus amboinicus, (Lour.) Spreng. Leaves Ethanolic Extract Nanoparticles.

BACKGROUND: The application of nanotechnology is aimed to enhance the capability of the chemical compounds of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. leaves activity. The contact area of the particle surface becomes larger in nano size, which can increase the amount of the isolated active substance. The nanoparticles of this extract exhibited the most effective impact in decreasing the cell number of T47D by induction of apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle. AIM: To evaluate the expressions of cyclin D1, caspase-9 and p53 in T47D cell lines treated by Plectranthus amboinicus, (Lour.) Spreng. Leaves Ethanolic Extract Nanoparticles (PAEEN). METHODS: The inhibition of cyclin D1 was done by flow cytometry assay. The expression of cyclin D1, caspase-9 and p53 were observed by immunocytochemistry assay. RESULTS: Plectranthus amboinicus, (Lour.) Spreng. Leaves Ethanolic Extract Nanoparticles (PAEEN) on concentration IC50 (89.2 µg/mL) inhibited the expression of cyclin D1 around 5.59%. Further, the immunocytochemistry assay indicated that there was an inhibition of cyclin D1, upregulation of caspase-9 and restoration of p53, indicated by their expression. CONCLUSIONS: The Plectranthus amboinicus, (Lour.) Spreng. Leaves Ethanolic Extract Nanoparticles could be an effective anticancer by improving its downregulation on cyclinD1, upregulation caspase-9 and p53.

Effect of Salt and Fresh Water Concentration on Polyisoprenoid Content in Bruguiera cylindrica Seedlings.

BACKGROUND: Mangrove forest is a typical forest found along the coast or river mouth which is affected by tides and salinity. Although polyisoprenoid was widespread in the plant kingdom, the physiological roles of these compounds are not well understood, especially from mangrove plants. It is therefore essential to characterize the polyisoprenoid content under abiotic stress. AIM: This study aimed to determine the effect of salinity and subsequent fresh water change on polyisoprenoids concentration in Bruguiera cylindrica seedlings. METHODS: Bruguiera cylindrica planted in a greenhouse for three months under various salinity concentrations. After three months grew under variable salinity, these seedlings were then divided into two treatment groups, and grown for another three months: one continuously in a salt solution and another in fresh water to relieve salt stress. The leaves and roots of B. cylindrica seedlings were harvested after six months of cultivation. The leaves and roots of B. cylindrica seedlings were extracted for polyisoprenoids content and composition analyzed using two-dimensional thin layer chromatography. RESULTS: Polyisoprenoids composition under salinity and subsequent fresh water with dominating dolichols (more than 90%) were found in leaves and roots of B. cylindrica seedlings referring type I of polyisoprenoid composition. The carbon chain length of dolichols located in the leaves and roots were ranging from C75-C100 and C75-C105, respectively. CONCLUSON: Dolichol dominated over polyprenol both in B. cylindrical leaves and roots under salinity and subsequent relief supported the previous finding on the predominance dolichols over polyprenols in mangrove plants. The present study suggested the significance of dolichols in the adaptation to cope with salt stress and or water stress.

The Effect of Crospovidone on the Dissolution Profile of Amlodipine Besylate from Fast Orally Dissolving Film.

BACKGROUND: Fast Orally Dissolving Film preparation can be used for patients with problems in ingesting solid dosage forms, such as mentally ill, elderly, geriatric and patients who are reducing fluid intake or nausea. AIM: This study aimed to formulate and evaluate the rapid dissolution of amlodipine besylate. METHODS: Amlodipine besylate film was prepared by solvent casting method by using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) as film formers, crospovidone as superdisintegrant with Varian concentration F1 (2%), F2 (4%), F3 (6%) and F4 (8%), PEG 400 as plasticizer, sucralose and sorbitol as sweetener, citric acid as saliva stimulation, and grape essence as flavoring and coloring agent. Characteristics of films include organoleptic, weight uniformity, film thickness, surface pH, swelling, uniformity of content, time of disintegration, and dissolution. RESULTS: All formulated films produced a good film, smooth, transparent and uniform physical properties. F2 with polymer HPMC and the 4% concentration of crospovidone was the best formula with 31.50 seconds of disintegration time, the index expanding at the 15 second by 242.29% and the cumulative percent of the drug at 80 seconds by 98.08%. CONCLUSION: Amlodipine besylate can be formulated into fast orally dissolving film preparations using HPMC and crospovidone polymers so that they may be considered for use in the treatment of hypertension for patients with drug-induced problems in tablet or capsule form.

Macadamia Nuts Oil in Nanocream and Conventional Cream as Skin Anti-Aging: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND: The effect of an active substance in a dosage form can be influenced by the different method of preparation. Nanotechnology has been used widely in all aspects including drug delivery system. Nanocream is one of the cosmetic dosage forms to improve the absorption of active substances on the skin. AIM: The study was to compare macadamia nuts oil nanocream with conventional cream as skin antiaging dosage form. METHODS: The formulation of nanocream was consisted of macadamia nuts oil 10%, tween 80, propylene glycol, cetyl alcohol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben and distilled water. The anti-aging was conducted by comparing the nanocream and conventional cream. The evaluation of anti-aging activity was conducted using skin analyzer apparatus. The aging parameters were moisture, evenness, pore size, black spot, and wrinkle of the skin. The data were collected for 4 weeks. All the data obtained were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Macadamia nut oil nanocream dosage form showed better antiaging activity on the skin compared to conventional cream which were characterized by changes in skin condition on each aging skin parameter such as water content, pore size, melanin, and wrinkles. CONCLUSON: It is concluded that macadamia nuts oil in nanocream dosage form has better antiaging activity on the skin compared to conventional cream and macadamia nuts oil can be used as an effective skin anti-aging dosage form.